Methods and Apparatus for Overlapping MIMO Physical Sectors

ABSTRACT

A system is provided comprising: a first wireless part with a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability; a second wireless part with a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability; and circuitry in communication with the first wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability and the second wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability. The system is configured such that the first wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability selects a channel based on one or more channel characteristics and initiates a first transmission to a first multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device via the first wireless protocol, and further initiates a second transmission to a second multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. Section 120 from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/952,874 by Lastinger filed Nov. 25, 2015; which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/476,628 by Lastinger filed Sep. 3, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,503,163; which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/348,523 by Lastinger filed Jan. 11, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,855,089; which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/118,386 by Lastinger filed May 28, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,345,651; which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/709,431 by Lastinger filed Feb. 21, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,009,646; which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. sctn.119(e) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/743,376 filed Feb. 28, 2006, each of the aforementioned applications is herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate to wireless communication using Multiple Input Multiple Output (“MIMO”) antennas and methods of operation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wireless devices find uses in a variety of applications for example, providing communication between computers, wireless cells, clients, hand-held devices, mobile devices, and file servers. Wireless devices with Multiple Input Multiple Output (“MIMO”) antennas benefit from spatial diversity and redundant signals. Noise sources may interfere with wireless devices that use MIMO antennas. Wireless communication using devices having MIMO antennas may substantially benefit from selecting a MIMO physical sector and/or a MIMO virtual sector to improve performance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system is provided comprising: a first wireless part with a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability; a second wireless part with a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability; and circuitry in communication with the first wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability and the second wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability. The system is configured such that the first wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability selects a channel based on one or more channel characteristics and initiates a first transmission to a first multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device via the first wireless protocol, and further initiates a second transmission to a second multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Embodiments of the present invention will now be further described with reference to the drawing, wherein like designations denote like elements, and:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an exemplary wireless device according to the various aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of exemplary physical sectors;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of exemplary physical sectors that form exemplary MIMO physical sectors;

FIG. 4 is a diagram of exemplary MIMO virtual sectors;

FIG. 5 is a diagram of an exemplary MIMO virtual sector;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of exemplary MIMO virtual sectors;

FIG. 7 is a diagram of exemplary alternate method for diagrammatically indicating physical sectors, MIMO physical sectors, and MIMO virtual sectors;

FIG. 8 is a diagram of communication between exemplary wireless devices in the presence of noise sources;

FIG. 9 is a diagram of an exemplary wireless device having three radios and three antennas for each radio;

FIG. 10 is a diagram of exemplary physical sectors that form exemplary MIMO physical sectors;

FIG. 11 is a diagram of an exemplary wireless device having two radio groups, each group having two radios and two antennas for each radio;

FIG. 12 is a diagram of exemplary physical sectors that substantially overlap to form exemplary MIMO physical sectors;

FIG. 13 is a diagram of exemplary physical sectors that partial overlap to form exemplary MIMO virtual sectors;

FIG. 14 is a diagram of exemplary physical sectors that partial overlap to form exemplary MIMO virtual sectors;

FIG. 15 is a diagram of exemplary physical sectors that partial overlap to form exemplary MIMO virtual sectors;

FIG. 16 is a diagram of exemplary physical sectors that substantially overlap to form exemplary MIMO physical sectors and exemplary MIMO physical sectors that partially overlap to form exemplary MIMO physical sectors;

FIG. 17 is a diagram of communication between exemplary wireless devices in the presence of noise sources;

FIG. 18 is a diagram of communication between exemplary wireless devices in the presence of exemplary noise sources;

FIG. 19 is a diagram of a method for forming MIMO physical sectors; and

FIG. 20 is a diagram of a method for forming MIMO physical sectors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Wireless devices use antennas to transmit and receive radio signals. Noise sources, such as other wireless devices including wireless devices that transmit on the same channel, may interfere with wireless communication. Conventional wireless devices use a variety of techniques to reduce the detrimental effect of noise on communication for example, dividing the area of coverage into sectors, using directional antenna, and using multiple antennas to provide redundancy and spatial diversity.

An improved wireless device, according to the various aspects of the present invention includes directional antennas positioned in such a way that the physical sectors of the antennas of the wireless device overlap and the antennas selected for communication are the antennas whose physical sectors overlap in an area in a manner that permits the antennas to operate as a Multiple Input Multiple Output (“MIMO”) antenna.

The wireless device, according to the various aspects of the present invention may select for communication any suitable combination of directional antennas that operate as a MIMO antenna and are oriented in a desired direction of communication. Furthermore, the wireless device may assign any available channel to the antennas to improve performance.

A wireless device, according to the various aspects of the present invention includes, for example, wireless cells, access points, wireless clients, mobile computers, and handheld devices.

The term “physical sector” is understood to mean the area of coverage in which an antenna transmits and receives signals. The size and shape of a physical sector depends on a variety of factors for example, the type of antenna, atmospheric conditions, presence of noise sources, and physical surroundings. Physical sectors 58, 60 and 62 represent the two-dimensional shape of idealized physical sectors of directional antennas. Physical sectors 58, 60 and 62 do not overlap in FIG. 2. Physical sectors 58, 60 and 62 substantially overlap in FIG. 3. Physical sectors 58, 60 and 62 partially overlap in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The term “MIMO antenna” is understood to mean at least two antennas that each transmits and/or receives signals on the same channel in the area where the physical sectors of the antennas overlap. Antennas may be positioned in such a way that their physical sectors overlap. Antennas whose physical sectors overlap in the same area may be configured to operate as a MIMO antenna in that area. Each individual antenna of a MIMO antenna operates on the same channel (e.g., frequency, encoding, or other method of dividing the radio spectrum for communication). A MIMO antenna provides, inter alia, spatial diversity between the antennas, redundancy, and temporal diversity to reduce the effects of noise on transmission and reception. Reducing the effects of noise permits a wireless device to communicate more reliability.

Antennas that form a MIMO antenna may be oriented to use different signal polarization for example, horizontal, vertical, and circular. Antennas that form a MIMO antenna may be physically separated to provide spatial diversity.

MIMO physical sectors are formed to provide communication with increased immunity to noise within the area of the MIMO physical sector. The term “MIMO physical sector” means the area where the physical sectors of the antennas that operate as a MIMO antenna overlap.

In an exemplary embodiment, referring to FIG. 3, physical sectors 58, 60, and 62 substantially overlap to form MIMO physical sector 82. Physical sectors 66, 68, and 70 substantially overlap to form a MIMO physical sector 84. In this embodiment, each MIMO physical sector has an angle of coverage of about 90 degrees. In another embodiment, referring to FIG. 6, each one physical sector 58, 60, and 62 and each one physical sector 66, 68, and 70 has an angle of coverage of about 180 degrees, thus the resulting MIMO physical sectors 82 and 84 have an angle of coverage of about 180 degrees. FIG. 7 represents an alternate method for diagrammatically representing physical sectors and MIMO physical sectors. Physical sectors 58-62 respectively have about a 180 degree angle of coverage and the center of each physical sector is oriented at approximately 90 degrees (straight up on the page). Each physical sector 58-62 extends from wireless device 10 to the furthest extent reached by the respective antennas even though FIG. 7 shows gaps between the physical sectors for clarity. The MIMO physical sectors 82 and 84 of FIGS. 6 and 7 are equivalent; however, the diagrammatical representation of FIG. 7 provides greater clarity. Thus, MIMO physical sectors 82 and 84 respectively include three substantially overlapping physical sectors 58-62 and 66-70.

The physical sectors of the antennas that form a MIMO antenna are not limited to being substantially overlapping. When physical sectors only partially overlap, the MIMO physical sector is the area where the physical sectors of the antennas that form the MIMO antenna overlap. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the antennas associated with physical sectors 58-62 transmit and receive using the same channel. Area 94 is the area where physical sectors 58, 60, and 62 overlap, thus area 94 is a MIMO physical sector. The antennas associated with physical sectors 58-62 operate as a MIMO antenna in area 94. The MIMO physical sector formed by physical sectors 66-70 is also shown in FIG. 4 as MIMO physical sector 82.

MIMO physical sectors may be formed in a variety of ways. In one exemplary method for forming a MIMO physical sector, referring to FIG. 19, antennas are selected to operate as a MIMO antenna then the antennas are positioned in such a way that the physical sectors of the antennas overlap. In another exemplary method for forming a MIMO physical sector, referring to FIG. 20, a plurality of antennas are positioned in such a way that the physical sectors of at least some of the antennas at least partially overlap then at least two antennas are selected to operate as a MIMO antenna in the area where their physical sectors overlap to form a MIMO physical sector. The plurality of antennas may be positioned in such a way that the various MIMO physical sectors that are formed are oriented in different directions. At least two antennas may be selected to operate as a MIMO antenna in accordance with the orientation of the MIMO physical sector formed by the physical sectors of the selected antennas. The orientation of some MIMO physical sectors may provide increased performance over the orientation of other MIMO physical sectors. Furthermore, the antennas that form the MIMO antenna may be assigned any available channel. Accordingly, the selected antennas, thus the MIMO physical sector, may be assigned to a channel that provides improved performance.

The term “MIMO virtual sector” means the area where the physical sectors of antennas that may operate as a MIMO antenna overlap. Referring to FIG. 13, physical sectors 58-62 and 66-70 each have an angle of coverage of about 180 degrees respectively. The antennas associated with physical sectors 58-62 and 66-70 are positioned in such a way that in area 150, physical sectors 58, 68, and 70 overlap. In area 152, physical sectors 58, 60, and 70 overlap and so forth for areas 154-160. Each one area 150-160 comprises a MIMO virtual sector because the antennas whose physical sectors overlap in the area may operate as a MIMO antenna. If the antennas associated with physical sectors 58, 68, and 70 are selected to form a MIMO antenna, then area 150 operates as a MIMO physical sector. If the antennas associated with physical sectors 58, 60, and 70 are selected to form a MIMO antenna, then area 152 operates as a MIMO physical sector and so forth for the other areas. Before antennas are selected to form a MIMO physical sector, areas 150-160 are MIMO virtual sectors. When antennas are selected to form a MIMO antenna, the area where the physical sectors of the selected antennas overlap become a MIMO physical sector while the other areas remain MIMO virtual sectors. A MIMO physical sector may also be referred to as a selected MIMO virtual sector or an active MIMO virtual sector. Any criteria may be used to select a MIMO virtual sector for communication.

The method of positioning antennas to form MIMO virtual sectors then selecting antennas to operate as a MIMO antenna permits the wireless device to respond to changes in, inter alia, performance, noise sources, and the environment by communicating through the MIMO physical sector that provides increased performance.

Positioning antennas to form MIMO virtual sectors permits a wireless device with fixed antenna positions to select from a variety of MIMO virtual sectors to communicate using the MIMO physical sector that provides a desired level of performance. When the performance of the selected MIMO physical sector deteriorates due to, inter alia, noise sources or environmental conditions, the wireless device can select different antennas to operate as a MIMO antenna, thereby selecting a different MIMO virtual sector to operate as a MIMO physical sector where the different MIMO physical sector provides increased performance.

MIMO physical sectors permits a wireless device to communicate with increased performance. MIMO virtual sectors permits a wireless device to select an area to transmit and receive in accordance with the MIMO virtual sector that provides a desired level of performance. A wireless device having multiple MIMO virtual sectors may select between the various MIMO virtual sectors. A wireless device may select the MIMO virtual sector that provides an increased level of performance. Positioning the antennas of a wireless device to form MIMO virtual sectors that are oriented in different directions permits the wireless device to select a MIMO physical sector based on the orientation of the virtual sector with relation to the position of noise sources.

Performance may be measure by, inter alia, throughput, data throughput, signal-to-noise ratio, reduced signal error, reduced data errors, reduced retransmission requests, reduced interference, rejection of multipath signals, higher transmission rates, and signal strength.

A MIMO system includes radios and antennas that may be configured to form MIMO antennas, MIMO physical sectors, and MIMO virtual sectors. A MIMO system may form a MIMO antenna using any suitable combination of radios and antennas. A MIMO system may select any suitable MIMO physical sector for communication. A MIMO system may have any suitable number of MIMO virtual sectors and/or selected MIMO virtual sectors. The MIMO system may position its MIMO physical sectors at any orientation. The MIMO physical sectors of a MIMO system may overlap other MIMO physical sectors of the same MIMO system. Overlapping MIMO physical sectors of the same MIMO system may be assigned different channels.

A MIMO system has at least two radios and at least two antennas where at least two radios and two antennas form a MIMO antenna. In another exemplary embodiment, referring to FIG. 1, a MIMO system has three radios with two antennas interfacing with each one radio. Three antennas, one antenna from each radio, may operate as a MIMO antenna, thereby resulting in a MIMO system having two MIMO antennas.

The present invention may employ various types of radios using any type of communication protocol and operating at any frequency and/or with any number of channels suitable for the application. The present invention may use any variety of antennas or groups of antennas for any purpose for example, transmission, reception, noise reduction, and multipath detection. Antennas may be positioned in any manner for example, their physical sectors may be overlapping and non-overlapping. Radios and antennas may operate as a MIMO system, MIMO antennas, MIMO physical sectors, and MIMO virtual sectors. Any type of algorithm and/or processor may be used to enable radios and/or antennas to form and operate as MIMO antennas. Antennas may be selected for communication according to any criteria such as for example, data throughput, signal strength, signal quality, and signal-to-noise ratio.

In one embodiment, the antennas of the wireless device are positioned to form non-overlapping MIMO physical sectors and one of the non-overlapping MIMO physical sectors is selected for communication with other wireless devices. In another embodiment, the antennas of the wireless device are positioned to form overlapping MIMO virtual sectors and some of the MIMO virtual sectors are selected for communication with other wireless devices.

The antennas that form a MIMO antenna may be used in any manner to transmit and/or receive signals for example, any number of antennas that operate as the MIMO antenna may transmit only, receive only, and transmit and receive signals.

In an exemplary embodiment, referring to FIG. 1, antennas 34, 36, and 38, with their associated radios, form a MIMO antenna in which each antenna 34, 36, and 38 transmits and receives the same signals. In another embodiment, antennas 34-38 form a MIMO antenna in which antenna 34 transmits, antenna 36 receives only, and antenna 38 transmits and receives. Different MIMO antenna configurations may provide different communication characteristics. For example, a configuration where all antennas of the MIMO antenna transmit and receive the same information may provide increased error correction. A configuration where antennas transmit and/or receive different information may provide increased data throughput. In an configuration where each antenna of the MIMO antenna receives some version of the same signal, the information content of the various signal versions received by the antennas of the MIMO antenna may be highly similar and/or less similar depending on environmental conditions for example, the presence of noise sources, multipath reflections, and spatial diversity of the antennas. Advanced algorithms may be used to process the signal received by each antenna that form the MIMO antenna to construct a resultant receive signal that contains as much of the receive signal information as can be extracted. The antennas of a MIMO antenna may be configured to receive signals from a common source by positioning the antennas such that their physical sectors overlap.

The number of antennas used to form a MIMO physical sector and the overlap of the physical sectors of the antennas may affect performance. For example, referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, area 90 receives coverage from only physical sector 62, thus communications within area 90 are transmitted and received by only antenna 38. Likewise, area 98 receives coverage only from physical sector 60 and antenna 36. Even when antennas 36 and 38 are selected to operate as a MIMO antennas, areas 90 and 98 are not MIMO physical sectors because only one antenna operates in the area. When only one antenna of the antennas selected to operate as a MIMO antenna transmits and receives in an area, the performance may not be as high as in the areas where the physical sectors of the antennas overlap to form a MIMO physical sector. Areas 92 and 96 receive coverage from physical sectors 58, 62 and 58, 60 respectively. Areas 92 and 96 are MIMO physical sectors because at least two antennas operate as a MIMO antenna in the areas. Communication using at least two antennas of the antennas selected to operate as a MIMO antenna may improve performance. Area 94, a MIMO physical sector formed by the overlap of the physical sectors of three antennas, receives coverage from physical sectors 58, 60 and 62 and their related antennas 34-38. Antennas 34-38 operate as a MIMO antenna, thus reception and/or transmission through all three antennas in area 94 may provide higher performance than reception and/or transmission through areas 90-92 and 96-98. The MIMO physical sector in area 94 is most likely to provide improved performance because all antennas of the MIMO antenna communicate in area 94.

MIMO physical sectors formed using directional antennas may use conventional antenna select methods to reduce interference from noise sources. For example, referring to FIGS. 1 and 8, wireless device 10 comprises processor 12, radios 18-22, RF switches 26-30, and antennas 34-38 and 42-46 where two antennas interfacing with each one RF switch respectively. Antennas 34-38 and 42-46 operate as a first MIMO antenna and a second MIMO antenna respectively. Radios 18-22 use the 802.11a/b/g/n communication protocols. Antenna physical sectors 58-62, associated with antennas 34-38 respectively, substantially overlap to form MIMO physical sector 82. Antenna physical sectors 66-70, associated with antennas 42-46 respectively, substantially overlap to form MIMO physical sector 84. In this embodiment, each radio is set to the same channel. The physical sectors and the MIMO physical sectors 82-84 extend farther than shown in FIG. 8 to enable wireless device 10 to communicate with wireless device 102 and receive interference from noise sources 106 and 108. Wireless device 10 uses RF switches 26-30 to select between antennas 34-38 and 42-46. In this embodiment, the RF switches select between one of two groups of antennas; either antennas 34-38 or antennas 42-46 are selected, thus only one MIMO physical sector, either 82 or 84, is active at any given time. In the embodiment and the scenario described in FIG. 8, wireless device 10 selects MIMO antennas physical sector 84 to reduce interference from noise sources 106 and 108 while communicating with wireless device 102. Wireless device 104 of FIG. 8 may also be implemented using MIMO physical sectors similar to those of wireless device 10. Wireless device 104 may select the MIMO physical sector that provides the best performance while communicating with wireless device 102 and reduces interference from noise source 110.

In another embodiment of a MIMO system, referring to FIG. 9, wireless device 10 comprises a processor 12, three radios 18-22, three RF switches 26-30, and three antennas interfacing with each RF switch. Antennas 34-38, 42-46, and 50-54 may have any angle of coverage, be oriented in any direction, form MIMO antennas, and form MIMO virtual sectors in any manner. In an exemplary embodiment, referring to FIG. 10, each antenna 34-38, 42-46, and 50-54 has an angle of coverage of about 120 degrees. Antennas 34-38 are oriented so that their associated physical sectors, 58-62 respectively, substantially overlap to form MIMO physical sector 82. Antennas 42-46 are oriented so that their associated physical sectors, 66-70 respectively, substantially overlap to form MIMO physical sector 84. Antennas 50-54 are oriented so that their associated physical sectors, 74-78 respectively, substantially overlap to form MIMO physical sector 86. Physical sectors 58-62, 66-70, and 74-78 are oriented such that the center of MIMO physical sectors 82, 84, and 86 are respectively oriented at about 60, 180, and 300 degrees respectively. In this embodiment, the MIMO physical sectors do not substantial overlap. Each radio is set to the same channel, thus the MIMO physical sectors 82-86 each use the same channel. The wireless device embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10 may also be used to reduce interference with noise sources by selected one of the three MIMO physical sectors for communication.

In another embodiment, not shown, wireless device 10 comprises a processor, four radios, an RF switch interfacing with each one radio, and four directional antennas interfacing with each one RF switch. Each antenna has an angle of coverage of about 90 degrees. The physical sectors of one antenna from each RF switch substantially overlap to form a MIMO physical sector resulting in a MIMO system having four MIMO virtual sectors. Each MIMO physical sector receives coverage from each one of the four radios. The physical sectors of the antennas are oriented in such a way that the MIMO physical sectors do not overlap and the MIMO physical sectors provide a combined angle of coverage of about 360 degrees. All radios are set to the same channel.

In another embodiment, not shown, wireless device 10 comprises a processor, two radios interfacing with the processor, an RF switch interfacing with each one of the radios, and three directional antennas interfacing with each one RF switch. Each antenna has an angle of coverage of about 120 degrees. The physical sectors of one antenna from each one RF switch substantially overlap to form a MIMO physical sector resulting in a MIMO system having three MIMO virtual sectors. Each MIMO physical sector receives coverage from each one of the two radios. The physical sectors of the antenna are oriented in such a way that the MIMO physical sectors do not overlap and the MIMO physical sectors provide a combined angle of coverage of about 360 degrees. All radios are set to the same channel.

In another embodiment, not shown, wireless device 10 comprises a processor, two radios interfacing with the processor, an RF switch interfacing with each one of the radios, and “N” directional antennas interfacing with each one RF switch. Each antenna has an angle of coverage of about 360 degrees divided by N. Two antennas, one from each RF switch, form a MIMO antenna, thereby forming N MIMO antennas. The physical sectors of the antennas that form each MIMO antenna substantially overlap to form N MIMO physical sectors. The MIMO physical sectors are oriented in such a way that the MIMO physical sectors do not substantially overlap, thereby providing a combined angle of coverage of about 360 degrees. All radios are set to the same channel.

Radios, antennas, and MIMO physical sectors are not limited to using a single channel for communication or to forming MIMO physical sectors that are substantially non-overlapping. Radios may be grouped to provide MIMO physical sectors that use different channels. MIMO physical sectors that communicate on different channels may be positioned to overlap. Overlapping MIMO physical sectors that use different channels may simultaneously communicate less mutual interference.

In one embodiment, referring to FIG. 11, wireless device 10 comprises a process 12, controllers 14, 16 interfaces with processor 10, two radios 18, 20 interface with controller 14 thereby forming a first radio group, two radios 22, 24 interface with controller 16 thereby forming a second radio group, an RF switch 26, 28, 30, 32 interfaces with radio 18, 20, 22, 24 respectively, antennas 34-48 interface with the RF switches in such a manner that two antennas interface with each one RF switch. The antennas may form MIMO antennas any manner; however, forming MIMO antennas using antennas from the same group enables MIMO physical sectors from different groups to operate on different channels.

In one embodiment, antennas 34 and 36 form a first MIMO antenna. Antennas 42 and 44 form a second MIMO antenna. The first and second MIMO antennas belong to the first radio group. Antennas 38 and 40 form a third MIMO antenna. Antennas 46 and 48 form a fourth MIMO antenna. The third and fourth MIMO antennas belong to the second radio group. In another embodiment, antennas 34-40 form a first MIMO antenna and antennas 42-48 form a second MIMO antenna.

The antennas and their respective physical sectors may have any angle of coverage and be oriented in any direction. The antennas of the various groups may form MIMO antennas in any manner. The resulting MIMO physical sectors may be overlapping or non-overlapping. In an exemplary embodiment, antennas 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, and 48 and their respective physical sectors 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, and 72 each have an angle of coverage of about 180 degrees. Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, physical sector 58 substantially overlaps physical sector 60 to form MIMO physical sector 82. Physical sectors 62 and 64 substantially overlap, 66 and 68 substantially overlap, and 70 and 72 substantially overlap to form MIMO physical sectors 84, 86, and 88 respectively. The center of the angles of coverage of antennas 34, 36 and 38, 40 are oriented at about 90 degrees (e.g., up the page), thus MIMO physical sectors 82 and 84 overlap. The center of the angles of coverage of antennas 42, 44 and 46, 48 are oriented at about 270 degrees (e.g., down the page), thus MIMO physical sectors 86 and 88 substantially overlap. Radios 18 and 20 belong to the first radio group and radios 22 and 24 belong to the second radio group. Assigning channel C1 to the first radio group and channel C2 to the second radio group results in MIMO physical sectors 82 and 86 using channel C1 and MIMO physical sectors 84 and 88 using channel C2. Thus, the channel assignment, the antenna orientation, and the MIMO antenna configurations provide overlapping MIMO physical sectors that use different channels. Referring to FIG. 12, MIMO physical sector 82 is assigned to C1, MIMO physical sector 84 is assigned to C2, and MIMO physical sector 82 substantially overlaps MIMO physical sector 84. Because MIMO physical sectors 82 and 84 are assigned different channels, they may communicate with different wireless devices simultaneously with less mutual interference. MIMO physical sectors formed using antennas from different radio groups enables the MIMO physical sectors to overlap, be assigned different channels, and communicate simultaneously. MIMO antennas of the same radio group use the same channel. Interference between MIMO physical sectors formed using antennas from the same group may be reduced by, for example, positioning the MIMO physical sectors in such a way that they do not overlap and communicating using only one MIMO physical sector from the same group at any one time.

In another embodiment, referring to FIG. 11, each one antenna 34-48 has a physical sector with an angle of coverage of about 90 degrees. Antennas are organized, as described above, to form four MIMO antennas. Antenna physical sectors are positioned such that the center of the angle of coverage for antennas pairs 34 and 36, 38 and 40, 42 and 44, and 46 and 48 and their respective physical sectors are oriented at 45, 135, 225, and 315 degrees respectively. Channel C1 is assigned to the first group radios and channel C2 is assigned to the second group radios. The resulting four MIMO physical sectors are positioned to not substantially overlap and adjacent MIMO physical sectors are assigned a different channel. One MIMO physical sector from the first radio group and one MIMO physical sector from the second radio group may operate simultaneously.

The antennas of wireless device 10 may be oriented to form MIMO virtual sectors. MIMO virtual sectors may have any angle of coverage and be oriented in any manner. A MIMO virtual sector may be selected for communication to decrease interference. In one embodiment, referring to FIGS. 1 and 13, antennas 34-38 and 42-46 have an angle of coverage of about 180 degrees. Antennas 34, 36, 38, 42, 44, 46 and the center of the angle of coverage of their respective physical sectors 58, 60, 62, 66, 68, 70 are oriented at 90, 150, 210, 270, 300, and 30 degrees respectively. The area between 0 and 60 degrees, marked as area 150 in FIG. 13, is covered by physical sectors 58, 68, and 70. Antennas 34, 44, and 46 may function together as a MIMO antenna to transmit signals to and receive signals from any wireless device within area 150. Areas 152, 154, 156, 158, and 160 are respectively positioned between about 60-120 degrees, about 120-180 degrees, about 180-240 degrees, about 240-300 degrees, and about 300-0 degrees and are serviced respectively by antennas 34, 36, and 46; 34, 36 and 38; 42, 36 and 38; 42, 44 and 38; and 42, 44 and 46. Each one area 150-160 comprises a MIMO virtual sector.

In an exemplary embodiment, referring to FIGS. 1 and 13, area 150 operates as a MIMO physical sector by forming a MIMO antenna using antennas 34, 44, and 46. Area 152 operates as a MIMO physical sector by forming a MIMO antenna using antennas 34, 36, and 46, and so forth for areas 154-160. In this embodiment, areas 158 and 160 may not be combined to operate as a MIMO physical sector because area 158 requires antennas 42, 44, and 38 to form a MIMO antenna while area 160 requires antennas 42, 44, and 46 to form a MIMO antenna. Because RF switch 30 selects only one antenna at a time, MIMO physical sectors, for this embodiment, are limited to any combination of any one antenna associated with each RF switch. In this embodiment, wireless device 10 may select and communicate through any one MIMO virtual sector at any given time. The method of selecting the MIMO virtual sector consists of setting the RF switches to select the antennas that service the desired MIMO virtual sector. In another embodiment, an RF switch with its associated antennas may be replaced by a phased array. Antenna elements of each phased array may form MIMO antennas.

Antennas may be oriented in any manner to form MIMO virtual sectors of any size. In an exemplary embodiment, referring to FIG. 13, each MIMO virtual sector 150-160 has an angle of coverage of about 60 degrees. In another embodiment, referring to FIG. 14, MIMO virtual sectors 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, and 160 lie between 0-30 degrees, 30-60 degrees, 60-180 degrees, 180-210 degrees, 210-240 degrees, and 240-0 degrees respectively. In another embodiment, referring to FIG. 15, each MIMO virtual sector has an angle of coverage of about 40 degrees. MIMO virtual sectors 150-166 lie between 0-40 degrees, 40-80 degrees, 80-120 degrees, 120-160 degrees, 160-200 degrees, 200-240 degrees, 240-280 degrees, 280-320 degrees, and 320-0 degrees respectively. In another embodiment, referring to FIGS. 11 and 18, each MIMO virtual sector has an angle of coverage of about 90 degrees. Channel C1 is assigned to the first group radios and channel C2 is assigned to the second group radios. Antenna pairs 34 and 36, 38 and 40, 42 and 44, and 46 and 48 respectively form MIMO antennas. MIMO virtual sectors formed by antennas 34, 36 and 42, 44 extend from 0-180 and 180-0 degrees respectively and are assigned channel C1. MIMO virtual sectors formed by antennas 38, 40 and 46, 48 extend from 90-270 and 270-90 degrees respectively and are assigned channel C2. The MIMO virtual sectors are positioned to form areas 150-156 which each receive coverage from two MIMO virtual sectors that operate on different channels.

A wireless device may select and communicate through a MIMO virtual sector to improve performance. A wireless device may use any criteria for selecting a MIMO virtual sector for communication such as, for example, the presence of noise sources, noise source channels used, signal-to-strength ratio, direction of primary data flow, signal quality, signal strength, and data throughput.

In one embodiment, referring to FIGS. 9 and 17, wireless device 10 desires to communicate with wireless device 102. Wireless device 10 successively enables each antenna combination that forms each MIMO virtual sector 150-160. Through each MIMO virtual sector, wireless device 10 measures its ability to communicate with wireless device 102. Through at least MIMO virtual sector 150, wireless device 10 detects the presence of noise source 110. Through at least MIMO virtual sectors 154 and 156, wireless device 10 detects the presence of noise sources 106 and 108 respectively. While communicating with wireless device 102, wireless device 10 may reduce interference from noise sources 106 and 108 by selecting and communicating through MIMO virtual sector 150. In the embodiment of wireless device 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 17, areas adjacent to the selected MIMO virtual sector have at least one antenna in common, thus selecting a MIMO virtual sector does not disable all communication in other sectors, but communication within the selected MIMO virtual sector may provide increased performance than adjacent areas because it transmits and/or receives using all the antennas that form the MIMO antenna.

Referring still to FIGS. 1 and 17, wireless device 10 may reduce interference from noise source 110 by selecting a channel that is different from the channel used by noise source 110. In the event that wireless device 102 cannot switch to a channel that is not used by noise source 110, communication with wireless device 102 may proceed using MIMO virtual sector 150 if it provides a desired level of performance. A wireless device may select any MIMO virtual sector that provides a desired level of performance. In this embodiment, wireless device 10 may select MIMO virtual sector 152 to communicate with wireless device 102. Wireless device 10 may detect less interference from noise source 110 through MIMO virtual sector 152 than it detects through MIMO virtual sector 150, but wireless device 10 may also receive a less desirable signal from wireless cell 102. In the event that wireless device 10 desires to communicate with wireless device 104 and noise sources 106, 108, and 110 all operate on the same channel as wireless device 104, wireless cell 10 may reduce interference from the noise sources by selecting MIMO virtual sector 160 for communicating with wireless device 104. A wireless device may select and use any MIMO virtual sector for any duration of time. A wireless device may switch from using one MIMO virtual sector to using any other MIMO virtual sector at any time and for any purpose. In an exemplary embodiment, referring to FIG. 17, wireless device 10 switches between MIMO virtual sectors 150 and 160 to communicate with wireless devices 102 and 104 respectively. Additionally, a wireless device may transmit through one MIMO virtual sector and receive through a different MIMO virtual sector. In another embodiment, referring to FIGS. 11 and 18, wireless device 10 may select the MIMO virtual sector that provides a desired level of communication for each area. Additionally, wireless device 10 may communicate with two wireless devices 104 and 120, both in area 156, simultaneously on different channels; for example, wireless device 104 communicates using channel C1 while wireless device 120 communicates using channel C2.

Unless contrary to physical possibility, the inventor envisions the methods and systems described herein: (i) may be performed in any sequence and/or combination; and (ii) the components of respective embodiments combined in any manner.

This application incorporates by reference U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/484,800 filed on Jul. 3, 2003; U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/493,663 filed on Aug. 8, 2003; U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/692,490 filed on Jun. 21, 2005; U.S. utility application Ser. No. 10/869,201 filed on Jun. 15, 2004 and issued under U.S. Pat. No: 7,302,278; and U.S. utility application Ser. No. 10/880,387 filed on Jun. 29, 2004 and issued under U.S. Pat. No: 7,359,675, in their entirety for the teachings taught therein.

The wireless cell can ask the advanced client to measure and report communication statistics such as, but not limited to, bit error rate, signal-to-noise ratio, dropped bits, signal strength, number of retransmission requests or any other environmental or communication parameter. Each antenna and antenna controller functions independently of the other antennas and controllers.

The antenna controller sets the beam width, beam azimuth, beam steering, gain of the antenna and any other parameter available on adjustable antennas. The antennas are also capable of high-speed switching. The controllable characteristics of the antenna are dynamically modifiable. The antenna beam can steer directly at one receiving client during transmission then pointed at a second client when transmission to the second client begins. The beam width of the antenna can be increased or decreased as necessary; however, it is preferable to not increase the beam width to provide antenna coverage beyond the width of a sector. If the beam width is adjusted to provide coverage wider than a sector, the radio signal may interfere with adjacent or opposing sectors or wireless cells or detect clients not associated with the sector or wireless cell. The processor is responsible for tracking the antenna characteristics best suited to service each client in the sector covered by the antenna and to set the antenna controller to the parameters best suite for the particular client when communicating with the client. The use of an adjustable antenna, an antenna controller and a processor capable of controlling the antenna controller is not limited to the six-sector embodiment of a wireless network, but can also be used in a four-sector wireless cell or other wireless cell types. Preferably, the beam width would not exceed the width of the sector of the wireless cell in which it is used.

MIMO antennas may use any combination of spatial, polarization, or angle antenna diversity. The MIMO antenna array may be fixed or adaptive for either transmit, receive, or both. When receiving, the MIMO antenna may use, for example, a maximum ratio combiner, an optimal linear combiner, selection diversity, or any combination of these methods or other methods for combining the signals from multiple antennas into a single signal. When transmitting, the MIMO antenna may use any type of encoding including, for example, OFDM, space-time-codes, or weighting of the antenna signals in the array to accomplish beam steering.

During transmission or reception, all or any subset of antennas in the MIMO array may be used or selection diversity may be used to limit the number of antennas used.

Antenna diversity may be used in the transmit path, in the receive path, or in both transmit and receive paths. The signal from each antenna, transmitted or received, may or may not be weighted.

Servicing a physical sector with a MIMO antenna means that all antennas in the MIMO array use the channel assigned to the physical sector. Signal attenuation may be added after each antenna, after the signal combiner, or in the signal processor that manipulates the incoming signals.

Although MIMO antennas are arrays of antennas, any antenna array may be used as a single antenna or a MIMO antenna may be used. For example, a directional antenna with about 120-degree angle of coverage may be replaced by an antenna array that provides similar coverage. The array may be fixed or adaptive. Adaptive arrays may use adaptive array weights to transmit directional beams within the angle and area of coverage to send a stronger signal to a desired client. During reception, an adaptive array may use array weights to direct a beam substantially towards the transmitting client and substantially null out any sources of interference.

The processor, in exemplary embodiments, in addition to getting receive data from and sending transmit data to the radios, may also send instructions to control the radios such as, for example, instructing a radio to change channels or getting control information from the radios. In exemplary embodiments, the processor may also be capable of, for example, varying attenuation, controlling any or all RF switches, maintaining route tables, maintaining client specific information, and handing off mobile clients.

In an exemplary embodiment, the processor may also control, for example, the attenuation or RF switches on a transmit or receive basis, a per client basis, a fixed period basis, and on a per demand basis.

Some embodiments may have a network connection that may enable the wireless cell to communicate with a wired network. Some embodiments may have local storage to store, for example, transmit and receive date, relay data, video or audio data, environmental conditions data, and any other type of data required to service clients, function as a network, handoff or receive mobile clients, and forward information.

When receiving, the MIMO antenna may use, for example, a maximum ratio combiner, an optimal linear combiner, selection diversity, or any combination of these methods or other methods for combining the signals from multiple antennas into a single signal.

Assume for this example that the communication protocol uses packetized data and that the clients must transmit RTS and await a CTS before transmitting a single packet. It is possible to switch a client, or multiple clients, from a packet based communication protocol to a data stream protocol to increase the efficiency of long data transfers between clients.

Another aspect of the invention is the use of multiple directional antennas, at least one radio, at least one attenuator and other electronic devices such as RF switches, packet switches, antenna sharing devices and other electronic and electrical components to generate various embodiments of wireless cells and wireless networks with differing characteristics and capabilities.

Although there have been described preferred embodiments of this novel invention, many variations and modifications are possible and the embodiments described herein are not limited by the specific disclosure above, but rather should be limited only by the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A system, comprising: a first wireless part with a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, the first wireless part being part of a single wireless station and having: a plurality of first directional antennas, and at least one first radio in communication with the first directional antennas for communicating via a first wireless protocol; a second wireless part with a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, the second wireless part being part of the single wireless station and having: a plurality of second directional antennas, and at least one second radio in communication with the second directional antennas for communicating via a second wireless protocol; and circuitry in communication with the first wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability and the second wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability; said system configured such that the first wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability selects a channel based on one or more channel characteristics and initiates a first transmission to a first multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device via the first wireless protocol, and further initiates a second transmission to a second multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device, such that the first transmission occurs simultaneously with the second transmission and on the channel, where the system is configured to: receive first information from the first multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device that is based on a first measurement performed by the first multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device; receive second information from the second multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device that is based on a second measurement performed by the second multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device; alter at least one aspect of the first transmission in connection with multiple of the first directional antennas of the first wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, based on the first information and the second information, so as to direct the first transmission more towards the first multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device as compared to the second multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device, thereby reducing interference between the first transmission and the second transmission when the first transmission occurs simultaneously with the second transmission on the channel; alter at least one aspect of the second transmission in connection with multiple of the first directional antennas of the first wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, based on the first information and the second information, so as to direct the second transmission more towards the second multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device as compared to the first multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device, thereby reducing interference between the first transmission and the second transmission when the first transmission occurs simultaneously with the second transmission on the channel; transmit first data in connection with the first transmission to the first multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device, utilizing the multiple first directional antennas of the first wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability; transmit second data in connection with the second transmission to the second multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device, utilizing the multiple first directional antennas of the first wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability; said system further configured such that the second wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability initiates a third transmission to a third multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device via the second wireless protocol, where the system is configured to: receive third information from the third multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device that is based on a third measurement performed by the third multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device; alter at least one aspect of the third transmission in connection with multiple of the second directional antennas of the second wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, based on the third information, so as to direct the third transmission towards the third multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device; and transmit third data in connection with the third transmission to the third multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device, utilizing the multiple second directional antennas of the second wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured such that at least one of the first information or the second information is a function of at least one of: a data throughput, a signal-to-noise ratio, a reduced signal error, a reduced data error, a reduced retransmission request, a reduced interference, a rejection of multipath signal, a higher transmission rate, or a signal strength.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured such that the first wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability and the second wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability are capable of communicating utilizing the channel, but with at least one different channel characteristic.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured such that the altering the at least one aspect of the first transmission and the altering the at least one aspect of the second transmission includes altering beamforming.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the system is configured such that the beamforming involves weighting.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured such that the first information is received utilizing the first wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability and the second information is received utilizing the second wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured such that the second wireless protocol includes a 802.11n protocol.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured such that the first information is received by the first wireless part and the second information is received by the second wireless part.
 9. A method, comprising: providing access to an access point including: a first wireless part with a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, the first wireless part being part of a single wireless station and having: a plurality of first directional antennas, and at least one first radio in communication with the first directional antennas for communicating via a first wireless protocol; a second wireless part with a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, the second wireless part being part of the single wireless station and having: a plurality of second directional antennas, and at least one second radio in communication with the second directional antennas for communicating via a second wireless protocol; and circuitry in communication with the first circuitry of the first wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability and the second circuitry of the second wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability; selecting a channel based on one or more channel characteristics for use in initiating a first transmission to a first multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device via the first wireless protocol, and further initiating a second transmission to a second multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device, such that the first transmission occurs simultaneously with the second transmission and on the channel; receiving first information from the first multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device that is based on a first measurement performed by the first multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device; receiving second information from the second multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device that is based on a second measurement performed by the second multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device; altering at least one aspect of the first transmission in connection with multiple of the first directional antennas of the first wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, based on the first information and the second information, so as to direct the first transmission more towards the first multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device as compared to the second multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device, thereby reducing interference between the first transmission and the second transmission when the first transmission occurs simultaneously with the second transmission on the channel; altering at least one aspect of the second transmission in connection with multiple of the first directional antennas of the first wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, based on the first information and the second information, so as to direct the second transmission more towards the second multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device as compared to the first multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device, thereby reducing interference between the first transmission and the second transmission when the first transmission occurs simultaneously with the second transmission on the channel; transmitting first data in connection with the first transmission to the first multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device, utilizing the multiple first directional antennas of the first wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability; and transmitting second data in connection with the second transmission to the second multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device, utilizing the multiple first directional antennas of the first wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first information or the second information is a function of at least one of: a data throughput, a signal-to-noise ratio, a reduced signal error, a reduced data error, a reduced retransmission request, a reduced interference, a rejection of multipath signal, a higher transmission rate, or a signal strength.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the first wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability and the second wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability are capable of communicating utilizing the channel, but with at least one different channel characteristic.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein the altering the at least one aspect of the first transmission and the altering the at least one aspect of the second transmission includes altering beamforming.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the beamforming involves weighting.
 14. The method of claim 9, wherein the first information is received utilizing the first wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability and the second information is received utilizing the first wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability.
 15. The method of claim 9, wherein the second wireless protocol includes a 802.11n protocol.
 16. The method of claim 9, wherein the first information is received by the first wireless part and the second information is received by the second wireless part.
 17. The method of claim 9, wherein the method involves a third transmission to a third multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device via the second wireless protocol, and further comprising: receiving third information from the third multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device that is based on a third measurement performed by the third multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device; altering at least one aspect of the third transmission in connection with multiple of the second directional antennas of the second wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, based on the third information, so as to direct the third transmission towards the third multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device; and transmitting third data in connection with the third transmission to the third multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)-capable portable wireless device, utilizing the multiple second directional antennas of the second wireless part with the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability. 